Treatment of endometriosis with traditional Chinese medicine

We know that the human body is very complex, especially the structure of the female body. There are always many gynecological diseases that accompany women, and they also bring certain troubles to women. Among them, endometriosis is a disease with a relatively high incidence rate. It can largely lead to the occurrence of female infertility. However, there are many treatments for endometriosis, among which traditional Chinese medicine is a better treatment. Let us learn about the treatment methods of endometriosis in traditional Chinese medicine.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease in women caused by the implantation of endometrial cells in abnormal locations. Endometrial cells should grow in the uterine cavity, but because the uterine cavity is connected to the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube, endometrial cells can enter the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube and grow ectopically. There are many theories about the pathogenesis of this disease, among which the endometrial implantation theory is widely accepted. In addition, the occurrence of endometriosis is also related to the body's immune function, genetic factors, and environmental factors.

Treatment of endometriosis with traditional Chinese medicine

Clinically, the following types of syndrome differentiation and treatment are generally carried out:

(1) Liver depression and qi stagnation: Mental depression, gloomy mood, worrying, and emotional problems. The liver is responsible for regulating qi. When liver qi is stagnant, the liver malfunctions. Liver depression leads to qi stagnation, which causes blood stasis and causes dysmenorrhea and abdominal masses. Disharmony of qi and blood leads to menstrual disorders and infertility. Emotional factors can affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis and cause neuroendocrine changes. If the progesterone level in the peritoneal fluid decreases, it cannot inhibit the active endometrium, making it easy for the endometrium to implant in the pelvic cavity and cause endometriosis. Main clinical symptoms: lower abdominal distension and pain, severe menstrual pain, pain extending to the lumbar and sacral regions, severe pain leading to fainting, abdominal pain that refuses to be pressed, pain during sexual intercourse, distension in the chest and flanks, breast pain, heavy menstruation, dark purple menstrual blood with blood clots, infertility after marriage, thin purple tongue coating with petechiae on the edges and tip, and wiry pulse.

Treatment principle: Regulating Qi and activating blood circulation, dispersing nodules and relieving pain. Prescription: Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (from "Yi Lin Gaicuo") with modifications.

Medicinal uses: Angelica sinensis, Chuanxiong, red peony root, raw rehmannia root, fructus aurantii, bupleurum, peach kernel, safflower, Achyranthes bidentata, Cyperus rotundus, etc. If menstruation is not smooth, add Leonurus japonicus and Shixiaosan; if there is swelling in the genitals, add Toosendan fruit and Bupleurum chinense; if there is fever during menstruation, add Red vine and Rhubarb; if there is breast pain, add tangerine leaves and tangerine seeds; if there is dripping menstruation, add Pollen Typhae and fried Sanguisorba officinalis.

(2) Stagnation of cold and dampness: When one is exposed to cold during menstruation, childbirth, or after childbirth, or when one lies in a damp place for a long time, the cold and dampness can invade the Chong and Ren meridians. Blood circulation is blocked, resulting in dysmenorrhea or abdominal masses. When one is physically weak, the organs are weakened, and the Yang Qi is weak, the Chong and Ren meridians lose their warmth, blood loses its ability to be contained, and blood fails to circulate through the meridians, causing irregular menstruation or abdominal masses.

Current studies have found that poor organ function can easily lead to abnormal immune function. The immune system becomes out of control, and a series of cytokines and inflammatory mediators secreted by immune cells participate in promoting the further growth and proliferation of the ectopic endometrium, leading to endometriosis.

Main clinical symptoms: frequent cold pain and dull pain in the lower abdomen, relieved by heat, aggravated abdominal pain during menstruation, fear of cold and cold limbs, cold pain in the waist and knees, dizziness and headache, excessive leucorrhea, irregular menstruation, loose stools, infertility after marriage, dark purple edges of the tongue, thin white fur, and a thready and tight pulse. Treatment principle: warm the meridians and dredge the collaterals, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Prescription: Wenjing Decoction (Jinkui Yaolue) with modifications, medicinal ingredients: Angelica sinensis, Chuanxiong, white peony root, cinnamon twig, ginseng, ginger, moutan bark, licorice, etc. If there is cold pain in the lower abdomen, add mugwort and purple quartz; if there is a prolapse in the lower abdomen, add astragalus and cimicifuga; if there is loose stool, add fried lentils and nutmeg; if there is increased leucorrhea, add Euryale ferox and cockscomb.

(3) Kidney deficiency and blood stasis: Excessive sexual intercourse or excessive childbirth can damage the kidney qi, leading to damage to the Chong and Ren meridians. Because the kidney stores essence, kidney deficiency results in less essence, which in turn deprives the uterus and vessels of nourishment, leading to insufficient Chong and Ren meridian qi and blood circulation, resulting in stagnation and blood stasis. Those with kidney deficiency and Chong and Ren meridians are prone to immune dysfunction and endometriosis; those with kidney deficiency and blood stasis are prone to endocrine disorders, ovulation disorders, and luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome. Among patients with endometriosis caused by kidney deficiency and blood stasis, 79% are LUFS patients.

Main clinical symptoms: frequent low back pain, dizziness, tinnitus, abdominal pain during menstruation, pain in the lumbar region, anal distension, dull pain in the lower abdomen or no pain at ordinary times, irregular menstruation, heavy menstrual flow, dark red menstrual blood, dark eye sockets, fatigue, miscarriage after pregnancy, secondary infertility, thin and dark tongue coating, and thready pulse. Treatment principle: Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, tonify the kidney and regulate menstruation. Prescription: Neiyixiao (empirical prescription) with modifications, medicinal ingredients: Trillium, Curcuma, Epimedium, Cistanche, Cuscuta, Pangolin, Leech, etc. If the menstrual volume is heavy, add donkey-hide gelatin and rhizoma strychnifoliae; if dizziness and tinnitus occur, add fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Eclipta prostrata; if secondary infertility occurs, add curculigo and fenugreek; if fatigue occurs, add codonopsis pilosula and astragalus.

(4) Internal obstruction of blood stasis and heat: The body is prone to internal heat, or is affected by pathogenic heat during menstruation or after childbirth, or has excessive emotions that turn into fire, or eats too much spicy and dry food, or blood stasis that has been stagnant for a long time and turns into heat. The pathogenic heat blocks the internal organs and damages the Chong and Ren meridians, causing poor blood circulation and endometriosis.

Main clinical symptoms: pain in the lower abdomen, burning sensation in the abdomen, often low fever or fever during menstruation, dry stools, thirst or dry mouth without desire to drink, early menstruation, red menstrual blood with blood clots, yellow vaginal discharge, red tongue, thin yellow fur, and thready and rapid pulse. Treatment principle: Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, clear away heat and disperse nodules. Prescription: Qingre Tiaoxue Decoction (Ancient and Modern Medical Mirror) with modifications. Medicinal ingredients: Coptis chinensis, Rehmannia root, Cortex Moutan, Semen Persicae, Safflower, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma zedoaria, Corydalis yanhusuo, etc. If accompanied by low fever, add Radix Rehmanniae and Artemisia annua; if irritability and restlessness occur, add Radix Curcumae and Fructus Toosendan; if menstruation is early, add Radix Scutellariae and Phellodendron Amurense; if damp-heat is severe, add Smilax glabra and Radix Polygoni Multiflori; if menstruation is heavy, add fried Sophora japonica flowers and aged palm charcoal.

(5) Phlegm-heat syndrome: Stagnation can be caused by qi stagnation. If the liver qi is out of balance, the liver is strong and suppresses the spleen, and spleen deficiency can easily lead to the endogenous phlegm and dampness. Phlegm and dampness block the kidney qi, causing water and dampness to accumulate, and the circulation of qi, blood and body fluids to become abnormal. Phlegm and blood stasis can cause endometriosis.

Main clinical symptoms: heavy or light menstruation, prolonged menstruation, anal distension, pain during sexual intercourse, sore waist and buttocks, aggravated menstruation, chest tightness, phlegm in the throat, obesity, drowsiness and fatigue, frequent menstruation, infertility after marriage, dark tongue, petechiae on the tip of the tongue, white greasy or thick greasy tongue coating, and thready and moist pulse. Treatment principle: softening and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.

Prescription: Xuejie Powder (from Zengxiaochanlaobeiyao) plus Xiaolu Pills (from Yixuexinwu) with additions and subtractions.

Medicinal uses: Sanguisorba officinalis, myrrh, salvia miltiorrhiza, red peony root, aconite, coix seed, bamboo shavings, elephant fritillary, etc. If menstruation is irregular, add Chinese Angelica and Chuanxiong; if chest tightness is uncomfortable, add Trichosanthes and Citrus aurantium; if phlegm and dampness are severe, add Atractylodes and Acorus calamus; if blood stasis is severe, add Stingworm and Prunella vulgaris; if there is a mass, add Leech and Curcuma

The fan-shaped page is an introduction to the treatment methods of endometriosis by traditional Chinese medicine. We all know that traditional Chinese medicine is slow in treating diseases and it takes a certain amount of time, but the treatment of the disease is more thorough. However, not all symptoms are suitable for traditional Chinese medicine treatment. In severe cases, surgical treatment is still required.